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JOSEPH W. BAN CROFT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. Letters Patent No. 61,038, dated January 8, 1867.

IMPROVEED DUMPING can.

TO ALL" WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. BANGROFT, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Self-Dumping Mine Car; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a sectionalsside elevation of this invention.

Figure 2 is an end View of the'same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists in improvements in a mine car, which is exclusively used in colliery slopes, (underlying shafts on the dip ofa coal seam, where the angle of descent is excessiveor over twenty-five degrees, the objects being to dispense with heavy cages otherwise required for bringing the car and its load to the surface, the cage in some cases being almost equal to the'weight of the coal elevated. But with thiscar the cage is dispensed with, and only the caiand its load of coal is elevated. In steep slopes of from five hundred to one thousand feet depth, this saving in weight reduces the steam power required one-third, or say fifty horse power, and the size and weight of mine ropes are equally reduced. Ordinarily, the cars which areused in the mines are brought direct to the surface in slopes of low angles, say, twenty degrees or less, Without cages, but in slopes of high angles, or in shafts, on cages, that is, a large, strongstructure mounted on wheels, which moves up and down the slope, and on this the mine cars are placed to ascend and descend the slope. In this invention this heavy apparatus is dispensed with and only the car and coal is raised; but there are other advantages in this invention, and the merits of the improvements may be briefly stated thus: I I

First, this car dispenses with one-third the weight, power, and expense in elevating coal from deep mines when slopes of a high angle are necessary.

Second, in mines when the seams of coal are comparatively thin, say from four to six feet, large mine cars cannot be used, and it would be tedious, slow, and expensive to elevate these small cars single to the surface; but by the use of this invention three or four small mine cars may be emptied into the slope-car and elevated at once to the surface.

Third, this self-dumping car is discharged or emptied, on arriving at the top of the slope, automatically, and without the assistance. or supervision of attendants, and consequently it operates rapidly and with the minimum of cost in raising coal. i

A represents my self-dumping mine .car, which is supported by two wheels, B, in the rear, and two wheels, B, in front. The diameter of the rear Wheels is about four times, more or less, larger than the diameter of the front wheels, so that the car is maintained on a comparatively low angle until ascending steep grades, when the body of the car assumes a level position and the coal or other articles in the car are kept in equilibrium over'thc Wheels. In front of the car is a door, C, which is hung on hinges or gudgeons, a, on its top edge, and which is locked by a swinging latch, 6. This latch is so constructed that when the car arriveson the top of the slope on the level track, said latch comes in contact with a fixed incline or cam and releases the door.

At the same time the bottom of the cariis brought in an inclined position, causing the coal to bear against thedoor, and as soon as the latch is released the coals immediately rush out, and the car is empty and ready to descend the slope again. The draught-chain or rope is hitched to a yoke, D, which is hinged to the sides of the car, and by these means said rope or chain is kept out of the way of the door in opening and free from being injured by the coal in passing out of the car.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A mining car supported'by large wheelsB behind and small wheels B in front, in combination with a swinging door 0, latch b, and yoke D, all constructed and operatingas and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH W. BANCROFT. Witnesses:

ABRAHAM BROWN, W. H. CAMPBELL. 

